Italy Travel Skills (VIDEO)

Tips for Traveling in Italy

• Italy is a rough-and-tumble country that demands smart travel
• To enjoy Italy, connect with the people and immerse yourself in the culture
• Soccer is a big part of Italian culture and attending a game can be a great way to connect
• Italy is well-organized and easy to get around, with trains being a good option for travel
• Strikes are common in Italy, but can be navigated with some flexibility and creativity
• Driving in Italy can be frustrating, so consider using public transportation for big cities and renting a car for exploring rural areas
• Use the Autostrada for efficient travel by car and be familiar with Italian road signs.
• Parking and Regulations: Be careful about parking from 8am-8pm on work days
• The little clock below means you can use a cardboard clock in your car to indicate your arrival time and its good for two hours

Tourism

• Italy is crowded, especially in popular tourist destinations like Rome, Florence, Venice, Siena, and Cinque Terre
• 80% of Italy has almost no tourism and is cheaper
• Try to understand regulations and bureaucracy for your own safety and convenience
• Safety: Pickpockets are common in crowded areas, especially in tourist destinations
• Wear a money belt and keep valuables secure
• Street thieves often pose as beggars

Eating

• Italy has a wonderful cuisine culture and loves to eat and cook
• Try family-style eating and smaller, more creative first courses
• Look for handwritten, small menus in one language for local, authentic food
• Marketplaces have delicious produce and local specialties
• Zero Kilometer Meal: Zero kilometers means everything is raised or produced in that village or farm
• Its a tradition that emphasizes the terroir and heritage of the region
• Look for restaurants that offer zero kilometer meals for a unique and authentic experience

Tips for Eating and Drinking in Italy

• Eat with the region and season, and ask locals for recommendations
• Make reservations in advance for popular restaurants
• Know the courses: antipasti, primi piatti, secondi, and dolci
• Try local wines instead of big-name brands
• Consider food tours and cooking classes for a fun and educational experience
• Enjoy aperitivo time and spritz drinks in the evening
• Find artisan gelato shops for quality flavors
• Stay in downtown accommodations for character and convenience.

Tips for Traveling in Italy

• Hotels are listed based on driving factors, so choose wisely.
• Double beds in Italy are usually two singles put together.
• Friendly hotel staff can provide great advice for your trip.
• Its important to have a safe, quiet, and central hotel for rest during your trip.
• Pack light as you may need to carry your luggage a long way.
• Bed and breakfasts offer double the culture intimacy for half the price.
• Air conditioning is necessary in the summer, while a sweater may be needed in the fall and spring.
• Bidets are common in Italy and are used for sponge baths.
• Cruising is a popular way to see Italy, but be aware of overcrowding in certain areas.
• Rick Steves tour program offers smart itineraries for exploring Italy.
• Best of Europe in Three Weeks, Best of Europe in Two Weeks, and Best of Italy in Seventeen Days are popular tours.
• Venice, Florence, Rome in Ten Days is a great itinerary for independent travelers.

Rick Steves Europe Itineraries and Travel Tips

• Rick Steves offers thirty itineraries for traveling in Europe, including The Heart of Italy, which covers Florence, Rome, a beach town, and a hill town.
• The Village Italy tour is popular for visiting lesser-known places and participating in cultural activities.
• Rick Steves Italy guidebook is the best-selling guidebook in the US for any destination outside of Disneyland.
• Rick Steves Audio Europe app offers free audio tours of popular Italian destinations.
• Northern Italy has beautiful Riviera ports, romantic lakes, Milan, and the Dolomites.
• The Cinque Terre is a popular destination with five towns, Monterosso Al Mare being the best resort town, and Vernazza being the most exotic and romantic town.
• Italy is the most rewarding but also the most challenging country in Europe, so preparation is important for a successful trip.

Exploring the Italian Riviera and Lakes – Cinque Terre, Lago di Como, and Milano

• Cinque Terre is a beautiful traffic-free region on the Mediterranean coast, with Vernazza being a favorite spot for fresh seafood and local traditions like pesto and trofie pasta.
• The Cinque Terre towns originated as groups of people hiding from pirates, and the trains and boats now connect them.
• Trail closures in Cinque Terre are mostly for legal reasons, and locals can provide accurate information on which trails are open.
• Private accommodations are the main type of lodging in Cinque Terre, and the pebbly beaches are charming but not ideal for serious beach-goers.
• Lago di Como is a romantic honeymoon destination in the north of Italy, with Vna being a beautiful spot to stay and explore the lake via traditional steamers.
• Bellagio is a larger resort town on Lago di Como, but Milano is a no-nonsense, powerful city that offers a glimpse into the reality of Italys industrial north.

Exploring Italy – Risorgimento, Milan, Dolomites, and Venice

• The Risorgimento was a political movement that united Italy in the 1860s, and its worth learning about before visiting Italy.
• Milan was the hotbed of the Risorgimento spirit, and its a great place to explore Italian history and culture.
• The Dolomites are the Italian Alps and offer beautiful scenery and cultural experiences, including a national park called the Alpe Di Siusi.
• Venice is the best-preserved big city in Europe, and it has a rich history as a trading and military powerhouse.
• Other towns worth visiting in the Veneto region include Padova, Verona, and Ravenna.

Exploring Venice – A Guide to the City

• Venice was once an island but is now connected to the mainland by a causeway, making it accessible by highway and train lines.
• The main tourist attractions are the Doges Palace and Basilica San Marco, but the real magic of Venice can be found in the far reaches of the city.
• Getting around Venice is done by boat, with the vaporetto serving as a floating city bus.
• St. Marks Square is the political and religious center of Venice and is home to the Basilica San Marco and the Doges Palace.
• Venice is a small town that entertains millions of tourists year, but it is possible to break away from the crowds and explore the local community.
• Venice is known for its art, with the Church of the Frari and the Accademia Gallery being two notable places to see Venetian Renaissance art.
• Getting lost in Venice is part of the experience, and walking is the best way to explore the city.

Exploring Northern Italy – Highlights and Tips: Padova, Verona and Ravenna

• After graduation, friends in Padova celebrate with a roast in public
• Scrovegni Chapel: completely frescoed by Giotto, a precious and fragile masterpiece
• Padova is a beautiful reminder to keep your feet on the ground
• Verona: Famous for Romeo and Juliet, but also worth a stop for its Roman history
• Roman bridge two thousand years old
• Amazing Roman arena and a wonderful get out in the streets and stroll kind of ambiance
• Charming town with a bike-friendly atmosphere
• Famous for its Byzantine mosaics, the best in Italy
• Western outpost of the Byzantine Empire, with sumptuous Byzantine mosaics

Other highlights of Northern Italy

• Milano: the best of the no-nonsense, powerhouse economies in Italy
• Lake Como: the best lake in Northern Italy
• Cinque Terre: the best stretch of the Mediterranean coastline
• Dolomites: the mountain resorts
• Venice: the highlight of Northern Italy, with side trips to Padova, Verona, and Ravenna.

Exploring Florence – art, architecture, and culture

• Art capital of Europe, host of the Renaissance
• Most urban part of Europe, with a banking business and lots of trade happening
• Built on the Arno River, with the main part of the city and the Oltrarno on the other side
• Circular boulevard goes around the city, with old gates decorating little traffic circles and small parks- • Delightful on foot, with a pedestrian-friendly center of town
• The Duomo is the core of Florence and the inspiration of the architectural Renaissance
• The dome designed by Brunelleschi kicked off the architectural Renaissance in the 15th century
• Visitors can climb to the top of the dome or the bell tower for a great view
• The Baptistery is a historic building outside of the cathedral where people were baptized before entering
• The Gates of Paradise designed by Ghiberti are located in the Baptistery
• Florence was the birthplace of the Renaissance, where artists combined math and science to create realistic art
• Michelangelo’s David is the most famous piece from the Florentine Renaissance
• The Uffizi Gallery hosts the greatest collection of Italian paintings anywhere and is a must-see museum in Florence
• The Museum of the Duomo is the most underrated museum in Florence and has incredible statues, including an amazing Michelangelo Pieta
• Florence has many historic churches where visitors can see the evolution of great art from medieval to Renaissance
• Leather shopping is a big deal in Florence
• The Mercato Centrale is a revitalized food court in an old industrial age market and is a great place for foodies to eat.
• Paradise in Florence: Mercato Centrale for lunch
• More pedestrian-friendly streets
• Ponte Vecchio lined with jewelers shops
• Oltrarno district for trendy foodie restaurants and artisans

Exploring Tuscany and Umbria

• Quintessential Italian countryside
• Siena as a home base and springboard
• Perfectly preserved medieval town with a great duomo and art
• Pisa’s square of miracles and Leaning Tower
• Lucca’s charming downtown and modern wall for strolling and biking
• Volterra as a less crowded and brooding hill town with a lot of history
• Tips: Prepare for Florence to enjoy it more due to crowds
• Make reservations for climbing the Leaning Tower in Pisa
• Consider local guides for a more immersive experience in Volterra.

Tuscany and Umbria – A Guide to the Region

• For $20, tourists can hire a local guide to show them around Tuscany and Umbria.
• Tuscany was home to the Etruscan civilization 500 years before Christ, and there are many Etruscan museums in the region.
• Tuscany and Umbria are known for their artisans, including alabaster carvers and silversmiths.
• The region is also famous for its wine, and tourists can visit vineyards with a reservation.
• Bed and breakfasts on working farms, called agriturismo, offer a unique cultural experience.
• San Gimignano and Orvieto are popular hill towns to visit, but its best to avoid the crowds during the middle of the day.
• Civita di Bagnoregio is a classic hill town that offers a glimpse into rustic Italian life.
• Assisi is famous for St. Francis and his basilica, which houses his relics.

Sightseeing in Rome – Tips and Highlights

• Victor Emmanuel monument: a grandiose building with a skylight in the center
• Galleria Borghese: a museum with Berninis greatest statues
• Michelangelo’s works of art: can be seen in Rome, Florence, and Milan
• St. Peter in Chains: a church with Michelangelos statue of Moses, located near the Coliseum
• Capuchin crypt: a crypt decorated with human bones
• Pickpocketing: a common risk for tourists in Rome, especially on bus 69
• Jewish ghetto: the oldest Jewish community in Europe, with a rich history
• Trastevere: a fascinating neighborhood across the Tiber River
• St. Peters Basilica: a beautiful and important church in Christendom, with Michelangelos Pieta
• Vatican Museum: a crowded but amazing museum, with the Sistine Chapel as the highlight
• Christmas in Rome: a festive time with celebrations lasting until Epiphany
• Climbing to the top of the dome: offers a great view of the Vatican and Rome.